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Lo'Jo
Mojo Radio
16.99
A classic in the Bohmemian musical world of France, now reissued and as relevant as ever. The Lo'Jo triban are as close as world music gets to the ethos of the Grateful Dead: a travelling circus of influences and ideas, and big band of core members and hangers on who have forged a unique identity. French chanson, reggae, Arabic dance and Paris trance are inextricably woven together by a band of singers, melodica, accordion, violin, kora, djembé, bendir and other instruments expected and surprising from all over the musical world.
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Also by Lo'Jo: boheme de cristal
The official press:
"Lo'Jo, led by a smoky-voiced chanteur named Denis Pean, sounds like an
itinerant cabaret band that has wandered a long way from the boulevards,
hearing griot tunes and tangos and Tom Waits but not forgetting its
accordion" -The New York Times
Read the reviews of French band Lo'Jo and you'll hear descriptions of a
veritable where's-where of world music Spanish, Hindi, Arabic, North
African, West African, English, Gypsy, Caribbean, and of course French.
These diverse origins are united seamlessly by the gravelly voice of lead
singer Denis Pean (who has been likened to Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, and Serge
Gainsbourg), the genetically synchronized tones of singing sisters Nadia and
Yamina, and the legacy of the band's quirky origins of street performance.
Operating communally from a house in Angers, France, Lo'Jo's success has
largely resulted from constant worldwide touring and a do-it-yourself
mentality that is paying off twenty years after the band's founding.
Key in the history of Lo'Jo is Mojo Radio, which was released to a cult
following in Europe in 1997, but only made it to these shores off the side
of the occasional concert stage.
With instrumentation including melodica, accordion, violin, kora, djembé,
and bendir, "Lo'Jo has made the trip from Angers, France to Bamako, Mali in
barely a minute" (Washington Post). Title track Mojo Radio is ripe for radio
airplay with tiers slowly building to its catchy, reggae-backed chorus.
The new/old CD features Dierdre Dubois of Ekova, who-along with the Nid El
Mourid sisters-creates on Mira Zunik the same kind of impressive vocal
layers that led Zap Mama to fame. On Si Jamais Si, Dubois is joined by
Mahaboub Khan of India's Musafir on vocals and dholak (two-headed North
Indian barrel drum). Featured on three tracks is Justin Adams of Sinéad O'
Connor and Jah Wobble fame, who, in addition to producing the Lo'Jo CD, was
recently called "Britain's answer to Ry Cooder" by The Guardian.
Classic Lo'Jo Album Finally Reaches American Shores
Lost Cabaret Band Plays Griot-Influenced Tangos
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